If you’re a fan of Internet Download Manager (IDM) for its incredible download speeds, you’ve likely noticed a common quirk: it often defaults to downloading YouTube videos in the MKV format. While MKV is a powerful container, many users prefer the universal compatibility of MP4.
If you find yourself constantly converting files or struggling with playback on different devices, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through a simple settings change in IDM to make MP4 your go-to format for YouTube downloads. Let’s get your download process perfectly streamlined.
Why Choose MP4 Over MKV for Your Downloads?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly cover the “why.” While both are excellent video container formats, MP4 has a few key advantages that make it a more convenient choice for most users:
- Universal Compatibility: MP4 files play on virtually any device, from smartphones and tablets to smart TVs and gaming consoles, without needing special codecs.
- Better Streaming Support: The MP4 format is optimized for web streaming, which is why it’s the standard for most online video platforms.
- Smaller File Sizes: For comparable quality, MP4 files are often slightly smaller than MKV files, saving you valuable disk space.
- Less Prone to Corruption: Users sometimes report that MKV files can be more susceptible to corruption during a failed or interrupted download.
How to Set IDM to Download YouTube Videos in MP4
Ready to make the switch? Follow these simple steps to adjust your IDM settings and prioritize MP4 downloads. This will change the options you see in the IDM video download panel on YouTube.
- Step 1: Open the main Internet Download Manager application on your computer.
- Step 2: In the top menu, click on “Downloads” and then select “Options” from the dropdown menu.
- Step 3: In the “IDM Configuration” window that appears, navigate to the “File types” tab.
- Step 4: Look for the box labeled “Automatically start downloading the following file types.” Inside this box, find and delete MKV from the list.
- Step 5: Click the “OK” button to save your changes.
That’s it! The next time you visit YouTube, the IDM download panel will now prominently feature MP4 video formats for you to choose from.
Pro Tip:
After making this change, IDM will show you various MP4 options with different resolutions (like 360p, 720p, 1080p). Always check the file size next to the resolution to ensure you’re downloading the quality you want. Higher resolutions mean larger files.
Pro Tip:
If you ever need to download a specific video that is only available in MKV, you can temporarily add MKV back to the “File types” list in IDM’s options to make it appear in the download panel again.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Why does IDM download YouTube videos as MKV by default?
YouTube now uses a streaming technology that often serves video and audio as separate streams. The MKV container is excellent at packaging these separate high-quality streams together, which is why IDM often defaults to it to provide the best possible video and audio. However, by removing MKV from the automatic download list, you tell IDM to look for the pre-packaged, highly compatible MP4 versions instead.
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Will this change affect the video quality?
No, this change itself doesn’t lower the quality. It simply changes which file formats IDM prioritizes. You will still be able to select from all available MP4 resolutions that YouTube offers for that video, including 1080p (Full HD) and higher, if available.
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What if I don’t see any MP4 options after making this change?
This is very rare, but if it happens, try refreshing the YouTube page (Ctrl + F5 for a hard refresh). Also, ensure your IDM extension in your browser is up-to-date. In some cases, a specific video might not have an MP4 version available in your desired quality, but this is uncommon on YouTube.
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Can I still download MKV files if I want to?
Yes. This setting just removes MKV from the *automatic* list that appears in the download panel. If a download link points directly to an MKV file, IDM will still capture and download it. To see MKV options in the YouTube download panel again, simply add “MKV” back to the list in IDM Options -> File types.
Conclusion
Fixing the IDM MKV problem is a quick and easy process that can significantly improve your video downloading workflow. By simply telling IDM to ignore the MKV format for automatic capture, you ensure that universally compatible MP4 files are always your first choice. Enjoy seamless downloading and playback across all your devices!